אֲבִיּוֹנָה (a.viy.yo.nah)
a.viy.yo.nah
desire
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun aviyonah refers to the caper berry, a plant known for its sharp, pungent flavor. In Ecclesiastes 12:5, it appears in a metaphor describing the physical decline of old age, where the "capers" are said to fail or be lost. This imagery relies on the berry’s characteristic ability to stimulate appetite and desire; as these faculties wane with age, the pleasure derived from life diminishes.
While some ancient translations interpreted this word as referring to a "poor soul" or spirit, the consensus among Hebrew scholars identifies it with the botanical term for the caper plant. The phrase suggests that the body’s natural cravings and zest for existence fade away, leaving the individual less interested in the things that once brought joy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word aviyonah describes the caper berry, a small plant known for its sharp, pungent flavor that stimulates appetite and desire. In Ecclesiastes 12:5, this vivid imagery illustrates the physical decline of old age. As the body ages, even the strongest cravings and zest for life begin to fade, leaving a person less interested in things that once brought joy.
This metaphor reminds us that our time on earth is finite. The loss of appetite mirrors the broader slowing down of life’s energies as we approach our final days. It invites us to reflect on what truly sustains us when physical strength wanes and worldly pleasures lose their sting.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ caper-berry1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הָֽ/אֲבִיּוֹנָ֑ה1×
Key Verses
-
Ecclesiastes 12:5
yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be on the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets;
The word signifies the fading of physical appetite and zest for life, serving as a metaphor for the bodily decline that accompanies old age.